| Title | : | Merciless |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 200 |
| Publication | : | Published October 9, 2019 |
Psycho newlyweds Grant and Lindsey Weatherby are true crime junkies with a thirst to know what it feels like to kill for real. Young, prosperous, and good-looking, they are seen by friends and family as the perfect couple. No one sees the dark side to their love. After their wedding, they embark on a trip across the country. As their honeymoon gift to each other, they plan to abduct, torture, and kill a stranger. But what was planned as a controlled one-time event soon explodes into a spiraling orgy of bloody, nightmarish violence and depravity.
Merciless Reviews
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This is without a single doubt, one of the most disturbing and traumatizing books I have ever read. Word of warning, this book is not for the faint of heart, it is brutal and graphic and there are A LOT of potential triggers throughout. It feels weird giving such a book 5 stars because I wouldn’t really say I enjoyed it in the typical sense you normally enjoy a book. My skin was crawling the whole way through and I often had to pause to collect myself while reading it because I was just so disturbed and horrified by what I was reading. Thank fucking god it’s fiction because I can’t even begin to process what kind of monster would do such things. I’m even a big slightly disturbed that an actual person made this story from their imagination, that must be one fucked up place to come up with such atrocities and I’m glad I’m not in Smith’s head. This book managed to evoke more emotion than me than any fiction book has in a long time, it’s been a long time since a book horrified me to this level!
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Almost ...
The problem with the "extreme horror" genre is that character often takes a back seat to gore. That is the problem with Smith's book, too, which is maddening because there is some good writing here. Focusing on Lindsey, the female half of the murderous newlyweds, was a huge mistake. She's a cartoon and about as unbelievable as they come. Her partner in crime is far more interesting, and had characterization been important, Smith would've realized that.
There are some good moments in here, but they are lost in the blood, vomit, and scalpings. If you don't care about characters and just want to see where the author will dare to go, have it. If, on the other hand, you demand more, find something else to read. -
I was going to give this 3 stars but bumped it to 4 for how unputdownable this novella was—I read it in one sitting. I’m a huge extreme-horror fan and don’t get squeamish easily, so I was all in for the masochism and violence. The ending of each chapter had me anxiously diving into the next one. Plus the story idea is brilliant. A newly wed couple decide to live out their true-crime obsessed fantasies by kidnapping, torturing, and killing random strangers. So as a whole, they are terrible people (but between the two, the woman is a freaking psychopath and terrifying).
I was personally upset by how the one POC character in this book was handled. However, after ranting/discussing the book with my husband and having him break down how not-far-from-reality the treatment of the POC character actually was, I had a slight change of heart. This book is about a cis-gendered white couple who are FULLY aware of their privilege and they hope to use it to literally get away with murder. That’s the horror.
…I’m still upset. But it’s Splatterpunk! Splatterpunk is upsetting. I’ve read worse. The whole point of the book is to display two very messed up people doing very messed up things to those who are innocent simply because they think they can get away with it. And that’s upsetting. I’m upset, and could always do without racial violence in my horror novels—especially when it’s written by white men. It’s something that triggers me as a WOC. But the book was still really good in my opinion. So I guess I can be upset and like a book at the same time??? I don’t know. Do with that what you will. I’m conflicted and my thoughts are all jumbled! Eventually I will have a more comprehensible review, but today it’s all feelings! 😂 -
This will not be a rant-y two star review. So if that’s what you’re here for, my apologies.
The book sucked me in. Action starts immediately and this couple is messed up.Love that the women in this book are kick-ass rather than the men running the show.
This is extreme horror so CW for lots of different things. If you’d like to know specifics, feel free to message me. Extreme doesn’t bother me. That’s not my issue with the book at all. And Smith can definitely turn a phrase.
Some of the scenes felt a bit drawn out and the back story for at least one of the side characters was clunky and rushed. Which is okay - it’s a short book, so there’s not a lot of time for that. The ending though, I kind of see what Smith was going for and it does connect to something at the beginning of the book but I was left like “COME ON - that’s it?” It really broke my experience.
Will I read more from this author? Absolutely. -
Over the top thrill killing. Sadistic cruel sexual violence. Not for the faint of heart. This came in my Night Worms package and was my least fave of the three books. Three stars because I was never bored but I normally wouldn't seek out this type of horror these days.
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Newlyweds Grant and Lindsey embark on a cross country trip where they plan to kidnap, torture, and murder a complete stranger as their wedding gift to each other. That's an intense enough starting point, but things almost immediately go wrong (in every sense of the word.
The level of violence, cruelty, and depravity in this book is like nothing I've ever read. I lost count of the number of times I had an actual vocal reaction to what I was reading.
Nothing was off the table here and it just kept escalating. You'd think the daughter's role in the story was essentially over after being forced to miscarry after repeated stomps to the stomach, but no. What she then does in a misguided attempt to escape is somehow worse.
What really makes this book phenomenal is the ending. There's no happy ending, which no one could be surprised at, but Smith manages to save the cruelest part of the story for the one person you were rooting for.
As my official entry into extreme horror. This was perfect. No notes! -
This book is labeled "extreme Horror" so it's definitely full of disgustingly depraved acts by the two terrible newlyweds, but I did expect a little more gore and less fucking.
On the positive front the end was mostly satisfying and the baby doesn't die.
Not sure I'll check out more of this author though. -
A truly apt title!
Bryan Smith is without a doubt one of horror’s unsung heroes. The man is just an immense talent and always writes an
extremely entertaining story.
Wow this book is truly like its title suggests, it’s merciless. This book grabs you by the throat and sends you hurtling to Hell at breakneck speed.
Depravity and bleakness are on full display here. Horrible people do horrible things, good people do reprehensible things and nothing goes as planned for anyone.
Bad and brutal things happen to people you want AND to people that you don’t want. That’s why Smith excels at his job, no one is spared from the carnage!
This book has some hefty violence so timid readers beware because this book is mean spirited and highly recommended to fans of horror that like their stories merciless! Highly recommended! -
DNF. I couldn't get past the racism, homophobia and pedophelia. After 75 pages, I knew the latter third wouldn't make up for what I already slogged through. The gore didn't bother me (admittedly, there wasn't much in what I read), but all of the characters were awful. All the men viewed women as sexual objects, and the one POC was simply relegated to his skin color. I couldn't be bothered finishing it because I didn't want to put up with the hateful deplorable character any more.
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DNF
I knew this was “extreme horror” going in, but what I didn’t anticipate was the derogatory language towards POC used by the characters. Authors, you can show the depravity of your characters AND not make them racist POSs. Hard pass. -
4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.
This is a fast paced brutal book that drew my attention in very quickly. The synopsis itself I also found intriguing - newly married couple decide to find a person to torture and kill to seal their vows. So messed up.
This is the kind of book that examines the worst parts of humanity. The darkest most heinous parts which will have you recoiling with disgust. This is not a comfortable or enjoyable book to read.
This was my first Bryan Smith book and I will be sure to read more. He knows how to write. I was also impressed that he wrote his main female protagonist to be a strong character who led the night’s events.
This is not for the squeamish or those who can’t deal with body horror. Lots of gore. There were points where I had to set it aside, take a breather and pick it back up when I was ready.
My one gripe was was the ending. I can see what Smith was going for but it felt a bit rushed and too left field for me. -
Merciless, by Bryan Smith was pure and simply Mega WTF in the best ways at all times. I crushed this one in less than 24 hours, as I could not put it down. Every turn of the book sunk the narrative, and it's lush characters to gross, new depths. Breaks to eat, sleep, or relieve myself felt MUCH too daunting among the exhilarating thrill ride of this novel. I didn't want to leave my reading chair for anything. I was not to be disturbed.
As with most titles I've read from Grindhouse Press so far, Merciless hit me in all the right ways. It was incredibly fast, fun, and gory, but it had a ton of heart. I also was quite keen on the characters in this one. Smith managed to fill my heart up with a love for even the most evil of beings. There is also a SUPER powerful message that Smith conveys about perception. Merciless undoubtedly gets five stars from me and I recommend it with the highest regards!!
EXCELLENT READ, LOVED IT!! -
I’m not the audience for this type of book (extreme horror). If you are into extreme horror and all sorts of messed up scenarios, this book is definitely for you. I like the basic premise of the story which is a newlywed true crime obsessed couple decide to kidnap and murder someone on their honeymoon. Some scenes were too disturbing for me to enjoy, but again this isn’t my favorite type of book. Definitely some thrills in there & if you can stomach anything, this might be for you! Rating 2 stars because I’m newer to horror & not sure where this lands with me.
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This one is filled with brutality and desperation. It's laid out all in the open with no regrets. Bryan was one of the authors that got me interested in the genre and continues to not disappoint. Good story plot. Things twist and turn and keep you guessing.
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No, just no. I should have stopped when there were hints of racism but the ending took the fucking cake. The only thing that made me finish it was because of all the twists and turns this story took but I just, no.
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This isn't the type of book I normally read, but it was included with my Night Worms subscription and I wanted to give it a try. I like branching out into new genres/sub-genres.
This is an "extreme horror", and the two main characters (newlyweds) are awful people. From the start, you aren't meant to like them. They're really into true crime and want to kidnap, torture, and murder someone over their honeymoon. They screw up their plan pretty much immediately.
The chapters are in a sort of 3rd person that skip to various characters, though you don't get a lot of insight. Also with some of the new chapters the character will re-hash what just happened or go into several pages of their backstory. It's not really the time for self-reflection, so this would take me out of the story a bit.
The ending is surprising but I actually kind of liked it. I only wish it had been hashed more throughout the book because it feels like it comes out of nowhere. Though I felt like the very last chapter makes reading the book feel a little pointless.
If you're into gore and/or monstrous main characters this is a fast read that you'd probably enjoy. -
Huh. So. This book happened. I'm pretty sure this was my first foray into splatterpunk, and while I'm glad a gave this subgenre a shot, I don't think I'll be revisiting it anytime soon. This book was exactly what it promised: bloody, cruel, action-packed and extreme. I couldn't stop reading, hence three stars; I wanted to take a shower after, hence the end of my brief splatterpunk journey. If quick pacing, gore and extreme human cruelty are things you seek in horror, this book does them really well! If you prefer your horror a little less gruesome, perhaps this isn't the read for you, as it wasn't for me.
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I have never read a Bryan Smith novel until reading Merciless, but WOW. This was nothing short of a five-star read for me. What an absolutely insane, violent book. I will slap this one down on the table immediately if someone asks me for an extreme horror rec.
This book was messy… in a good way. Bloody, violent, depraved, psychotic. It didn’t take Smith much time at all to take me down the rabbit hole of what would become of Grant and Lindsey’s little “honeymoon adventure.” A beautiful cabin somewhere in the mountains becomes a slaughterhouse straight out of a horror film. A lot of people are ravaged in really sick ways.
The torture scenes are definitely intense, being that I found myself stopping a couple of times. They’re also quite drawn out. The drawn out aspect didn’t bother me much, I actually thought it was an appealing aspect of the story. Rushing a torture scene wouldn’t be very torturous, now would it? Smith does just fine with vividness, too… don’t worry, there will never be a time where you can’t see the violence and gore play out in your mind.
I was thoroughly engaged with Merciless even though it was a simple read that took place in a single setting. There’s not much world/character-building here, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this probably isn’t the book for you. I do appreciate that there was just enough here for me to see a storyline behind all the depravity and sickness, though. That’s always a plus, and ticks off the box that the author is more than just a gore whore, but a solid writer as well. Extreme horror writers always have to prove themselves, so I’m always rooting!
I definitely don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll wrap it up by saying if you’re into extreme horror, you’ll absolutely be into Merciless. It’s a ruthless one. I’m glad I picked it up to read for spooky book month, and it’s closed out my reading for October. Will definitely be looking into other titles by Bryan Smith!
Also, I was rooting for you Jorge!!!!! WTF man. -
Girl Power!
I love the pin-up murderers that Bryan Smith brings to life in his books. Sultry, sexy, and sadistic. And... Merciless. -
3.5 rounded up for GR
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Just bad. This was not it.
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I received this book in my Night Worms subscription box, and it was one of the first splatterpunk books I've read. I can't say that this would be a genre I would be particularly interested in going forward, but I'm glad I got over my initial "yuck I don't like this" feeling.
Lindsey and Grant are newlyweds who have decided to murder someone on their honeymoon. Lindsey has dreams of being known as one of the all-time greats, up there with Bundy, Kemper, Dahmer. There's a great deal of irony in this, considering that she immediately screws up the plan, kidnapping, like, the first guy she and Grant come across. That underscoring of how inept they both are, how they let their own stupid grudges and arguments distract them, provided a nice counterpoint to the ever-rising atmosphere of terror and dread.
I like true crime. I listen to podcasts, watch the shows, read the books. I was immediately reminded of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. The story of Paul and Karla, if written in a narrative format, wouldn't be that dissimilar to the first half of Merciless. So while it's easy to flinch away, to not want to actually look at how horrible this sort of thing is, the truth is, it happens. There are real people out there just like this, who get off on causing misery, who enjoy hurting others. And it feels, perhaps, a little disingenuous to consume true crime as entertainment but think myself as somehow above reading about the actual nitty-gritty of the crimes themselves, no holds barred, nothing held back.
Anyway, this book made me think about the media I consume, and what that says about me. It reminded me that it's easy to forget about the absolute, incredible pain and terror that victims of monsters like Grant and Lindsey go through. I can't necessarily say that I enjoyed reading Merciless, but I'm glad I did. -
Merciless is honestly one of those books that I may have not picked up on my own if it were not in Nightworms subscription box. This book chronicles a rampage that newlyweds Grant and Lindsey Weatherby go on it was honestly an enjoyable read. The descriptions of the violence that occurred were very gratuitous. There were times I felt very nauseous reading the vivid imagery but then when my husband asked me if I needed to switch to a Nicholas Sparks novel (which I would find overly dull and saccharine) I was reminded that I do like the sense of feeling horrified. However, I actually enjoyed the book with this intriguing premise so I kept reading, realizing that I found Bryan Smith brilliant in his ability to really suck me into a scene.
My real issue was not with the story or the writing style…its more that the violence for the sake of violence that the splatter punk subgenre of horror genre is known for. Anyone who is not familiar with the splatter punk genre would need to be warned about how grotesque the depictions of violence can be before picking it up, yet I kept thinking that it was written brilliantly. I would also issue trigger warnings for sexual violence, violence against women, violence against children and infants. As a sensitive reader I found myself reacting to all of this but I still found myself intrigued enough to keep on reading until the end as I kept wondering how everything would eventually resolve. 186 pages was the perfect length, I may have struggled to keep on reading this book if it was a longer book. But for a short book I found it entertaining enough to keep reading!
I also published this review on my blog:
http://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com/... -
How did I allow myself to sink to this level? Why did you let this happen, God? Why, why, why?
Newly wedded and seeking an adventurous thrill of a lifetime, Grant Weatherby and Lindsey Harper would Discover so many darkened secrets and urges buried deep inside the classic American Couple. Driven by a sadistic, sexually fueled excitement for the illegal and taboo, Lindsey found herself bored with the standard Vanilla Sex standards, and drove Grant into a level of deprivation that thrilled her senses. A controlling, tormented Mistress to punish and inflict torments into Grant, he all too willingly accepted it to feel the excitement of their lust for one another. Consumed by a shared passion for the sick and twisted, both found themselves mystified by the ultimate of taboos, Murder. As the two embarked on the adventure of the lifetime across the continental United States, They would find themselves in the desolate countryside of Tennessee where fantasy could become a horrific reality.
That’s you, she thought again. Lindsey Elaine Weatherby, the notorious triple murderer.
Following the two after engaging in a risky hookup on the side of a barren street, found the unfortunate soul, Jorge Mendez, having car issues leaving his older vehicle un-driveable and smoking. With a calculated move, Lindsey puts a tranquilizer feather to his throat leaving him vulnerable to their cruel clutches. Sleeping soundly and stored in the back of their camper, the two find themselves coming to terms to the impromptu abduction. With alertness slowly dawning in his eyes, Jorge finds himself heavily disoriented and taped securely into a chair in the spacious living room. Terrified beyond measures with his life as he learns the truth about the soulless desires of his captives. As tempers continue to flair up between the couple, it’s anybody’s guess who will survive and who will find themselves deceased.
She slid a hand between Kelsey’s legs and put her mouth close to her ear. “I want to have a little taste of what I took from you.”
Craving a chance to rekindle his slipping marriage and his family, Pierce Weatherby decided on a whim to drag the spoiled, entitled family far up into the mountains for a weekend of wholesome family fun. Forgetting weeks earlier to returned the cabin’s keys to one of the family elders, the thought of it being occupied was the furthest from his mind. Torn as he watched his wife of close to two decades; Piper, farther find acceptance in lustful interactions with another man, he figured nothing was left to lose. Far removed from his seventeen year old daughter Kelsey, And fifteen year old Son Rory, he realized with saddened remorse he truly missed every aspect of their childhoods. It wasn’t until he newly retired from the jet setting, globe trotting, multi figure a year salary career he held for years would he see how dysfunctional the family dynamics were. At a little over a year old, newest child Vance was believed to be his, but deep in Piper’s heart she knew the paternity lain with a new flame she kept hidden from the husband. Nearing the cabin and with tempers flavoring, she would announce her desires of divorce following the proceedings of the family vacation, leaving a sour taste in everyone’s mouths.
She’d gone about fifty feet in that direction when a dirty, scraggly-haired hermit in his tattered rags came scrambling up over the side of the ridge and onto the road. The hermit took a cautious look around with his darting, crazy-looking eyes. Then he snatched up the baby and went back over the side.
As the family entered uncharted territory, the sight of a vehicle in the driveway was an unwelcomed sight due to the late hours, and as the father stumbled towards the doorway he would be greeted with a horrific scene. A man, injured and bound to a chair, bloodied flooring and a deranged couple bounding down the stairs, he faced himself in his younger cousin’s eyes as a knife was dug deep into his stomach. As Kelsey watched her father die, she fled to the family minivan and Lindsey wasn’t far behind. As the young son fled with his crying baby brother, mother and daughter was unconscious and tethered on the floor of the cabin. With Lindsey hot on Rory’s trail, Grant found a lustful, sinful attraction to the young girl which would soon set his wife into a blinding rage. Killing Rory, she was faced with the dilemma of the screaming baby, yet as she turned to leave an old drifter scooped the child into his arms and vanished without a trace. Back at the cabin, nude and covered in their victim’s blood, Lindsey and Grant had rough intercourse in front of their captives, Before angered, Lindsey drive a nail into the young girl's mouth. Pleading with their lives, Kelsey blurted our about her six week along pregnancy, causing Lindsey to stomp her abdomen and effecting kill the unborn life harbored within her belly. With her life hanging in the balance, Kelsey would do u speakable acts of cruelty to her mother as well as Jorge, to the delight of the demented couple. From scalping both Jorge and her mother, she swapped the scalps as she stitched them into place. When her usefulness was ending, they all were alarmed to hear a baby crying before the crazed lunatic bounded inside, killing both Grant and Kelsey with a machete. Taking a keen interest to Lindsey, he hacked her arms and legs off and took her as his wife, taking the baby along with them. As Jorge awoke in horrible pain, he broke free from his bounds and with his scalp in toe, drove the minivan to the roadway far below. Believing he was home free, his horror to getting pulled over and fatally shot by a police officer was almost comically unjustified. Deemed the murderer of the family, The truth would be dead and buried in his heart as the story would find itself never to be truly heard or spoken.
“I am the rumble of distant thunder. I am a messenger from the heart of darkness. I am judgment.”
From that point forward, Jorge would forever be known as the perpetrator of the so-called “Mountaintop Massacre.”
Lindsey had fucked both of them in a wild, drunken threesome two days before her wedding to Grant. There were pictures of Justin taking her from behind stored away in a secret online photo album. -
I received this as part of my Night Worms subscription package.
Well - I am not really sure where to start on this one. I was not familiar with Bryan Smith's work before 'Merciless', so I don't really have any sort of mental measurement tool to go by, in terms of if this is typical for the author or not.
I marked this three stars because I liked it, though I am tempering that comment with all sorts of caution. This book is graphically brutal and violent, and to say I "liked it" is really sending a mixed message. I endured it. It's well-written, but just a relentless kick in the gut.
Sure, Smith manages to bring it all around with a balls-out nutty denouement that I DID NOT SEE COMING, but all of the bleakness that preceded almost took the wind out that moment. The gist here is a young couple hell-bent of killing someone, and oh if it were only that simple. Things go horribly wrong. Horribly, terribly wrong.
There is some fucked up stuff going on within these pages, and this is certainly not for everyone. This thing reads like a runaway freight train and it never lets up, even as Smith slathers on the gruesomeness.
I have not felt this uncomfortable reading a novel since Jack Ketchum's 'The Girl Next Door'. -
Ok so, hear me out.....
I am giving this 4 stars because of just how uncomfortable it made me feel, which was the entire point. I found the writing to be very well done.
This was my first ever “extreme horror” book and, I’m honestly not sure the genre is for me. I am a true lover of horror but there is only so much I can take and this was definitely on the border line of that. There were some scenes here that were REALLY tough to swallow, some that made me almost set this book aside. For those reasons, I’m not sure I can actually *recommend* this to anyone.
Trigger warnings galore. Extreme gore and murder, sexual assault, child murder, racial violence.....just think of a trigger warning and it’s likely here!
If you are a lover or extreme horror that really makes your stomach turn and aren’t really bothered by trigger warnings, definitely pick this book up!
Definitely NOT for the squeamish or faint of heart. I cannot stress this enough.
I repeat: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH OR FAINT OF HEART!!!! -
"Merciless" by Bryan Smith
Newlyweds Lindsey Harper and Grant Weatherby have set out to see the world for their honeymoon. It's been their dream to roam the country. Their first stop is Grant's family cabin but things take an unexpected turn when they come across a man broken down on the side of the road and Lindsey impulsively decides to kidnap him.
This was my first read by Smith. I actually read it as a buddy read and it was a wild ride. This story really takes off after the kidnapping of Jorge and goes in directions I never saw coming. The descriptions are vivid and especially extreme. I wasn't expecting Grant's character to turn into the monster that he did, he was almost as merciless as Lindsey. I loved how the homeless man and Jorge tied the story together and how it kept you guessing until the very end.
